Patrow lifts way to another national title

Dean Patrow of Fort Frances once again has qualified for the world drug-free powerlifting championships in Omaha, Neb. after winning another national title in Moose Jaw, Sask. in March.
Patrow, 43, continued his dominance in the Superweight division (over 319 pounds) of the Masters division (over age 40), and narrowly missed capturing the world record while squatting 693 pounds.
He just missed squatting 722 pounds, which would have been a new world record.
The next closest competitor in his age category in the squat managed a top lift of just 605 pounds.
Weighing in for the competition at 330 pounds, Patrow also nailed a 396-pound bench press–despite still recovering from an injured shoulder–and finished with a deadlift of 578 pounds.
Patrow admitted the injured shoulder hampered his training and his ability to lift more weight at the nationals. Last year, he finished with a squat lift of 672 pounds, bench press of 407, and deadlift of 590.
Patrow won the open category by a 17-pound margin over a 26-year-old native of North Battleford, Sask. even though his counterpart had a top bench press of 500 pounds.
Still, he said he was pleased with his performance and admitted he’s looking forward to competing at this year’s world competition Aug. 24-27.
He was unable to compete in last year’s world event due to surgery after he had earlier smashed three records at the Canadian showdown in Taber, Alta.
“I think I have a good shot at the world record in the squats,” said Patrow, who already holds the world record in the bench press for Masters with his 407-pound lift.
“Some people have done more but it has to be at the nationals or another sanctioned event that recognizes records,” he noted.
In 1996, Patrow captured the world title in the Masters division.
In the meantime, he will continue to train at the Fort Frances Sportsplex four days a week (two heavy workouts and two light ones) for a meet in Minnesota later this month.
Aside from competing, Patrow also has taken a keen interest in helping several high school athletes train for the sport, and works with Special Olympian Arlan Scott in the gym.
And when he’s not pumping the weights, he’s also pushing the drug-free powerlifting web site.
Patrow said the site, which includes pictures and workout tips, already has seen about 1,100 hits since it was designed back in September.
The idea is to get as many people as possible exposed to powerlifting, and to do so in a drug-free manner.